Whoa..Annual Pass Increase - Effective 10/4/15

[Sherry E]

A gentleman involved in the arguing on the Orange County Register Facebook page said: "What Walt wanted is irrelevant. If that were to be the Disney Inc guideline we'd be riding the Apple Dumpling Gang instead if Star Tours..." [sic] That one made me burst into laughter. I can just envision an Apple Dumpling Gang 14-acre land and thrill ride!

 

[az4boys]

I've been coming back to this thread all day.... I don't blame Disney for doing this. I've always thought the AP's were a great value, even now. If someone visits more than a couple times a year it is worth it. I'm personally sad though. I've always dreamed of doing AP's for one year. My problem is we aren't local and trips take advance planning. Even before today I was starting to think that for our family of 6 it doesn't make financial sense to go more than once a year. We only have our kids at home with us for a limited amount of time. There are so many other things we want to see and do before they grow up. I'm still sad though.

ETA: One of the reasons we put off going though, is we don't handle crazy crowds well. Love Disney. Don't love wall to wall crowds. Trying to find lower crowd time is hard with school schedules. So maybe in awhile this will help with that, just at a higher cost.

 

[caramello]

I'm not eligible to renew until the end of the month, but hoping someone who is can answer these questions.

There's several mentions of parking now being an option. Is this for all passes or just the new ones (that replaced the premier) where it is included in the price. "Option" makes me think it is an add on.

I know there's no discount for renewal of the deluxe passes. What about the other passes?

Currently we have 1 premiere and 3 deluxe. Before today's announcement we were planning on getting one premiere and three SoCal passes. Is the SoCal pass still an option to downgrade?

I'm wondering if I should run and get a premiere pass at the Disney Store if there's no renewal discount instead of purchasing the Signature.

Thanks for anyone who has insight ... I know this is new for everyone, but hopefully someone who is up for renewal can help!

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

Backing up a step, I don't really have a problem with complaining. And I didn't mean to make it appear I was jumping on Sherry. But what I don't agree with are those who say "Disney is just all about the profits", "Walt wouldn't have done this" or "Walt is gone from the park" or "Walt wanted everyone to come to his park". They are right on the last one, he wanted everyone to come to his park... to spend money. He never gave the park away at cost. He would have been one that said "The park is too crowded, we need to thin it out a little, and the way to do that is to raise the prices." Walt charged by the ride. Want to come in? $1 Want to ride Autopia? Buy a ticket for it. Want to ride the Pack Mules? Buy another ticket.

When I went in the 60s as a child, we bought ticket books, and when your 10 rides were done, your trip was over, unless parents wanted to fork over more money. Walt would love it if you just bought another pack of tickets.

Walt was a businessman, a very shrewd businessman.

Thank you for the clarification.

I agree with Walt wanting people to spend money, I think that Disney is about profits though without money the parks can't run. It's a sad fact, like I am never going to expect Disney to ever lower their prices I think it will continue to rise unless we have another huge economy issue. He would be happy with the amount of money things are now, Walt would not be rolling in his grave over these prices.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

I wonder if they will get rid of those premium passes tonight and not sell them tomorrow, I'm interested to see if they are still available at the stores.

 

[Malcon10t]

I wonder if they will get rid of those premium passes tonight and not sell them tomorrow, I'm interested to see if they are still available at the stores.

Grocery stores will need the rep to come in and remove the passes and take them out of the system. That will take longer. As for the DIsney store, last time they lasted 2-3 days.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I'm not eligible to renew until the end of the month, but hoping someone who is can answer these questions.

There's several mentions of parking now being an option. Is this for all passes or just the new ones (that replaced the premier) where it is included in the price. "Option" makes me think it is an add on.

I know there's no discount for renewal of the deluxe passes. What about the other passes?

Currently we have 1 premiere and 3 deluxe. Before today's announcement we were planning on getting one premiere and three SoCal passes. Is the SoCal pass still an option to downgrade?

I'm wondering if I should run and get a premiere pass at the Disney Store if there's no renewal discount instead of purchasing the Signature.

Thanks for anyone who has insight ... I know this is new for everyone, but hopefully someone who is up for renewal can help!

I have read that the parking add-on is for renewal only. There is no new purchase of a parking add-on.

Premier passes can only be purchased at the park ticket booths. Are you talking about Premium? If you do purchase a Premium AP voucher at the Disney Store, make sure the expiration date is 2016. You will not receive the PhotoPass benefit if that is important to you.

 

[jani3]

Grocery stores will need the rep to come in and remove the passes and take them out of the system. That will take longer. As for the DIsney store, last time they lasted 2-3 days.

There wasn't any type of pass at my local grocery store and I am planning on going to the disney store tomorrow late afternoon. Keeping my fingers crossed that they are still there.

 

[caramello]

Thank you theluckyrabbit! Sorry I meant Premium. Yes, PhotoPass is nice, but not a priority.

 

[mom2rtk]

Strange how none of the usual sources seemed to predict this.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I don't see these increases as too horrible if you already use photopass plus.

+$50 for the same deluxe, not good, but not horrible.
+$70 for premium to become signature (minus peak Christmastime), but + free photopass+ (costs $70 per 2weeks prior separately)
+$270 for premium to become signaturePlus (no blackouts) + free photopass+

So basically, they seem to be trying to reduce the horrible overcrowding over Christmas break, and making people pay an extra $200+ for it. If you are an annual passholder who doesn't go during peak Christmas anyway but uses photopass+ fairly often, this is actually a better deal for you.

That calculus works if you are only paying for one person. But when you multiply the increase times the number of people in your family, it gets a lot harder to justify.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think people are allowed to complain, I mean it is a bit of a bummer doesn't mean I won't still be renewing my pass. I just wish they had gotten rid of the Deluxe as well, or the SoCals. Which I am sure will happen next year with the SoCal. I'm interested to see if the crowds lessen, I highly doubt it. People will still buy the passes.

I'm curious why you wish they had gotten rid of the Deluxe pass? For many people who don't live in the area, it's the least expensive option of getting more than 6 days in the parks. Not everyone is local. We bought our APs last year and are returning just inside a year to get a second trip out of them. We aren't close enough to justify a higher level pass.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

I'm curious why you wish they had gotten rid of the Deluxe pass? For many people who don't live in the area, it's the least expensive option of getting more than 6 days in the parks. Not everyone is local. We bought our APs last year and are returning just inside a year to get a second trip out of them. We aren't close enough to justify a higher level pass.

Not everyone who has a Deluxe pass is a traveler either, many locals also have Deluxe/Premium/SoCal/etc just as many travelers also have a Premium. I just feel like it is a bit ridiculous that they split the Premium in two "or two premium like passes" when Premium just meant "no blackout + parking" The Signature could have replaced Deluxe, and the Premium could have been replaced by Signature Plus.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just gonna leave this here...I posted it elsewhere and feel like it needs to be read with all the complaints going on.

Not upset about the price increase at all!! If you're an annual pass holder and have not done the math to see the value in this and are therefore stating you will not be renewing, see ya later. More room for me. If you're not a frequent visitor and tickets work better for you than you're not affected as of yet. But even so, ticket prices are even still a great deal. Here's some information for you...and simple math.

Disneyland currently has 40+ attractions in its resort for a ticket cost of $99 (or $155 for a park hopper). Universal Studios Hollywood currently has 8, yes that's right, EIGHT attractions and they charge $95 for a ticket. Who is really the company overcharging here??

I don't get the complaints. I just don't understand. ANNUAL PASSES ARE AN AMAZING VALUE!! Here is some basic math to prove the value. If at any time you will be visiting the park more than 6 days in a year, you are saving money.

DELUXE PASS vs TICKETS ---
A deluxe pass is $599, or 6 days in the park with park hoppers. This AP does not include parking, but can be added on. For now we'll just quote it as if you were going to pay $18 (the current pricing) daily for parking those 6 days. That's a cost of $707 with the deluxe AP, or with just buying tickets on its own, $578. Here you can see the Deluxe Pass is not cheaper than just buying tickets, As long as you are only going 6 days. Any more than that and the pass is cheaper.

SIGNATURE ---
$849, or 5 park hopper tickets. Includes parking, PhotoPass+ and discounts on merchandise/food.

SIGNATURE PLUS ---
$1049, or 6 park hopper tickets. Includes parking, PhotoPass+ and discounts on merchandise/food.

Now I'm not your average visitor, but if I didn't have an AP then I would have spent a small fortune going to the parks this year. Without including any savings I have received on food and merchandise, my 63 trips to the park would have cost me $10,899 (with parking included). So please, tell me how this isn't a value. I hope you realize that AP's are directed towards those of us locals that take multiple trips during the year. It's a value. Please just look at the math. If I'm going for more than 6 days, I'd rather just buy the pass than buy solo tickets!! That guarantees I can return during the year more than 6 times if I wanted to!

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that maybe you're not buying for a family of 4, 5 or more. Try multiplying out those numbers for a family and maybe you'll start to get some of the complaints.

And honestly, even if one can afford the price, most people can't even take 60 days away from work and family to spend in the parks.

 

[iKristin]

Actually, I have bought three passes this year. One for me and two for two of my cousins. Yes it's expensive, but I saved and made it happen. I know it's worth it so I put the money aside to get the pass. Now I know not everyone can afford to do this and I'm sorry they can't, but that's no ones fault.

The thing is, Disney is a business. A very large business that has the most expensive parks in the world to run. You can't expect prices to stay as cheap as they have over the years. You want to see what happens when prices are cheap and the money isn't there to keep repainting chipped paint nightly or to make sure the park looks pristine the next day? The parks are run 24/7 with thousands employed. And Disney has to make a profit. So yes, people can complain all they want about the pricing, but the thing is that you're still getting an amazing value with an annual pass if you're going for more than one week in a year. Disney is not here to cater to specific people just because they can't afford to buy passes. Even I have gone a few years without visiting the park because I couldn't afford a pass.

In the end, yes people are allowed to be upset and complain. But why waste your energy on something negative when it will change nothing. It's best to just accept it as it is because prices will keep going up. That will never stop.

 

[KalamityJane]

I was going to renew for what would have been 5 passes (my youngest turns 3 right before our current APs expire). Now I really can't justify it given that that would be $3000. We got ours before the price increase last year so only paid $500/AP. At 3k, I'd rather just do a nice family vacation elsewhere.

 

[Sherry E]

At the end of the day, this is a discussion forum... and people will discuss things. Some of those things that people discuss will be what they don't like about Disneyland Resort or WDW or DCL, or whatever. The sentiments expressed about Disney are not always going to be sunshine and roses, but the thing is that everyone has their own idea of what is okay and not okay for them, personally, and we may not all share the same views on the pros and cons of certain things that Disney does.

But if no one ever complained or took the time to express their opinions -- which may be negative -- about changes, additions, removals, expansions, etc., this wouldn't be much of a discussion forum!! There would probably be a lot fewer posts, that's for sure. As it is, I get the feeling that some people who are new to or not as familiar with this forum may think that we (the mods, podcast folks, admins) "have" to say good things about Disney, or that we are somehow obligated to only paint DLR and WDW in a positive light. That's not what we do here -- I can't speak for Mary Jo, Tom Bell, Michael Bowling, Nancy Johnson, etc., but I'm pretty sure that all of us use our respective platforms to give out as much information as we can -- and also give our opinions. Sometimes we may love certain things that Disney does, and sometimes we may not like them at all, but the conversations and discussions on the board are always encouraged either way (as long as they remain respectful and people don't start jumping on each other, attacking and making things personal!).

 

[mom2rtk]

At the end of the day, this is a discussion forum... and people will discuss things. Some of those things that people discuss will be what they don't like about Disneyland Resort or WDW or DCL, or whatever. The sentiments expressed about Disney are not always going to be sunshine and roses, but the thing is that everyone has their own idea of what is okay and not okay for them, personally, and we may not all share the same views on the pros and cons of certain things that Disney does.

But if no one ever complained or took the time to express their opinions -- which may be negative -- about changes, additions, removals, expansions, etc., this wouldn't be much of a discussion forum!! There would probably be a lot fewer posts, that's for sure. As it is, I get the feeling that some people who are new to or not as familiar with this forum may think that we (the mods, podcast folks, admins) "have" to say good things about Disney, or that we are somehow obligated to only paint DLR in a positive light. That's not what we do here -- I can't speak for Mary Jo, Tom Bell, Michael Bowling, Nancy Johnson, etc., but I'm pretty sure that all of us use our respective platforms to give out as much information as we can -- and also give our opinions. Sometimes we may love certain things that Disney does, and sometimes we may not like them at all, but the conversations and discussions on the board are always encouraged either way (as long as they remain respectful and people don't start jumping on each other, attacking and making things personal!).

Sherry, I love your even handed approach. I can see and feel the Disney love coming out of you, even just on a discussion forum. But you're not afraid to call a spade a spade, and call them out when warranted. Thank you for offering both sides of the discussion.

 

[DizMe]

I have used the "Walt would/wouldn't have liked this" argument in the past. However, I have to laugh on this thread at the "Walt would have approved" statements. There is absolutely nothing by which to gauge that accurately. Sure, he believed in profit, but that was tempered by other considerations. Maybe he would have approved and maybe he wouldn't. I was a kid in the 60s, too, and it cost my family of 5 something like $25--total--to go to Disneyland. We had ticket books and there were not as many attractions. The park was completely different and there was no DCA, so it's difficult to compare. Adjusted for inflation, today's prices are still hugely higher than anything in Walt's time. I'm not sure how Walt felt about annual passes. I believe that Walt did not want to price the average family out of Disneyland. That hasn't happened yet, but if the regular ticket prices go much higher it will. In the end, though, the truth is that it doesn't matter what Walt would or would not have approved, because Disney is not Walt, it's a huge corporation that isn't really interested in what people like me or anyone else on this board think.

 

[Tyggress]

Strange how none of the usual sources seemed to predict this.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I don't see these increases as too horrible if you already use photopass plus.

+$50 for the same deluxe, not good, but not horrible.
+$70 for premium to become signature (minus peak Christmastime), but + free photopass+ (costs $70 per 2weeks prior separately)
+$270 for premium to become signaturePlus (no blackouts) + free photopass+

So basically, they seem to be trying to reduce the horrible overcrowding over Christmas break, and making people pay an extra $200+ for it. If you are an annual passholder who doesn't go during peak Christmas anyway but uses photopass+ fairly often, this is actually a better deal for you.

Yeah....being a PAP holder, I agree.
I will likely upgrade my PAP to the Signature. I never go during Christmas/New Year's, but I do like PP+. I just renewed my PAP in August, so I'll upgrade and use the PP+ benefit for the rest of the year.
My DH and DS both have Deluxe, and an extra $50 each isn't TOO bad.

 

[mershell]

Would someone be willing to post the link to the information about parking on the premium pass? What I read led me to believe that parking would be included in the new premium pass, even if you were renewing. So, I'm confused now.

Thanks